You can't beat homemade granola! I make it in batches that fill a large jar and serve it to guests in the shepherd's hut in the breakfast basket I deliver to them. For that purpose, I make a quirky "Granola Pot" by using a kilner jar and filling it with a layer of fresh fruit and a layer of Greek yogurt topped with the delicious granola. Guests love it! So do we!
I mix 2 tbsp of vegetable oil, 125 ml of maple syrup, 2 tbsp of honey and 1 tsp of vanilla extract into a large bowl. Then I tip 300 g of rolled oats, 4 tbsp of sesame seeds or linseed, 100 g of flaked almonds and 100 g of a mixture of sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds or other seeds that take my fancy. No two batches of my granola are the same!! I mix it all well in the bowl then I tip into two baking sheets and spread it evenly. Some clumps will form at this stage and they will be deliciously crunchy when cooked!
Bake in a preheated oven (150C or 130C fan) for about 15 mns. Then add 150 g of a mixture of coconut flakes, dessicated coconut and dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, finely chopped apricots... whatever takes your fancy) and mix well. Bake for another 10-15 mns. I leave it to cool in the trays then when cooled right down, I scrape it all off into my glass jar.
